A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

For to prove the lawfulness of the name of an archdeacon / the antiquity / the necessity of it / the testimonies of four are brought / which neither speak of their lawfulness / nor of their necessity / and they say not in deed so much as God save them: and two of these witnesses are Popes / whereof the first / and best / ordained that if the Metropolitan did not fetch his pall at the apostolic sea of Rome / within three months after he were consecrated / that then he should lose his dignity / as Gratian witnesseth in the decrees y• he ascribeth unto Damasus.

For to proue the lawfulnesse of the name of an archdeacon / the antiquitye / the necessitye of it / the testimonies of foure are broughte / which neither speake of their lawfulnes / nor of their necessity / and they say not in deede so muche as God saue them: and two of these witnesses are Popes / whereof the first / and best / ordained that if the Metropolitane did not fetche hys pall at the apostolike sea of Rome / wythin three monthes after he were consecrated / that then he should lose his dignity / as Gratian witnesseth in the decrees y• he ascribeth vnto Damasus.

I doubt not therefore that this is but a forger / upon whom you would father the archdeacon / for that Damasus / in whose place you put this forger / lived An. 387. at what time the sea of Rome had no such tyranny as this / and other things which are fathered of him / do pretend. And if this be enough to prove archdeacons / I can with better witness prove subdeacons / acolytes, exorcists, lectores, ostiarios, these doth Eusebius make mention of / an ancienter writer / then any you bring / and out of Ruffine / Theodoret / Sozomen / Socrates. &c. monks almost in every page. And here upon it is more lawful for me to conclude / that monks / subdeacons / exorcists, acolytes, ostiarij, lectores, are necessary ecclesiastical orders in the church / as you conclude the necessity of the archdeacon.

I doubt not therfore that this is but a forger / vpon whom you would father the archdeacon / for that Damasus / in whose place you put this forger / liued An. 387. at what time the sea of Rome had no suche tirannye as thys / and other things which are fathered of him / do pretēd. And if this be enough to proue archdeacons / I can with better witnes proue subdeacons / acoluthes, exorcistes, lectores, ostiarios, these dothe Eusebius make mention of / an auncienter wryter / then any you bring / and out of Ruffine / Theodoret / Sozomen / Socrates. &c. monks almost in euery page. And heere vpon it is more lawfull for me to conclude / that monkes / subdeacons / exorcistes, acoluthes, ostiarij, lectores, are necessary ecclesiasticall orders in the church / as you conclude the necessity of the archdeacon.